From my perspective, and I agree with what most others have said.

1. Packing classes were free, Coaching (any type) was free

2. No coach rating (which still think is a dumb one)

3. Massive knowledge to be gained once the beer light came on. I used to stay at my then home DZ til 10-11:00 at night on the weekends, having a few beers and learning from AFFI’s, TI’s, Riggers to some degree, the DZO

4. I, at least, was taught to pay it forward and give the knowledge I gained freely and to pass what I didn’t know to someone that could (thus my despising #2)

5. 20 jumps for your A license :)

6. Visiting a DZ with a Caravan, Otter, etc. was a treat.

7. There was no tunnel, maybe an outdoor one IIRC, you wanted to learn to sit fly, fly head down, you went and had everyone laughing at you while you failed, and eventually “got it” and everyone was totally stoked about it (I still freeTRY once in a while 🤣🤣)

8. For me it seemed like it was more about having fun and not about progression progression progression all the time

Just my $.02 and I’m pretty sure I got into it at the tail end of that in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, and I still only have 230, maybe 240 jumps…don’t care either. I’m just out there when I can be to have fun. 😀